This is one of my favorite risotto recipes. It’s rich and creamy, made with Taleggio cheese - a semi-soft, washed-rind cow’s milk cheese from Italy named after the alpine valley in the Lombardy region called Val Taleggio. It melts well, which makes it perfect for risotto. Ingredients: 2 Tbsp butter 1 shallot, peeled and minced 12 oz. arborio or carnaroli rice ½ … [Read more...]
Chinese-Style Rice Cakes with Pork
I really love the rice cakes that are so popular in China and Korea, in part because they are neutral in flavor which makes them extremely versatile. Most are also gluten-free. Rice cakes are thick, sticky, chewy pasta-type morsels that usually come in oval medallions (like the ones here) or shaped into thick cylinders. I use pork in this rice cake stir-fry dish, but you could … [Read more...]
Roast Pork Pernil Asado
One of my favorite recipes - especially if I’m cooking for a crowd - is roasted pork shoulder called pernil. It’s a classic Puerto Rican dish and it is also popular in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other Carribean and Latin American countries. Pernil is usually made using pork shoulder. This recipe is based on the one used for pernil asado at Chef Jose Enrique’s namesake … [Read more...]
Chinese-style Chicken & Asparagus
Here is a healthy and light springtime stir-fry dish that I really love. It cooks very quickly, so make sure you have everything prepped and ready before you turn on the stove. This recipe is based on one from The Woks of Life. Ingredients: 12 ounces chicken breast (thinly sliced) 1 Tbsp water 1 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp oil (any neutral oil, such as vegetable or … [Read more...]
Butter Lettuce Salad with Shrimp
When temperatures warm up in spring and summer, I often like to enjoy a hearty salad as a main dinner course. This butter lettuce salad with shrimp makes for a great one-plate dinner or lunch. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp butter 1/2 lb. medium shrimp, shelled and deveined Old Bay Seasoning (optional) 1 small head of Boston or Bibb lettuce, leaves torn into bite-size … [Read more...]
English Peas with Prosciutto
There are few things I like more than sweet and delicious fresh spring peas. Here is an easy recipe for peas with prosciutto or bacon that makes for a great side dish. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups fresh shucked English peas ½ Tbsp olive oil 2 shallots, peeled and minced 2 oz. prosciutto, diced or 1-2 strips bacon, diced 1 tsp. sugar salt and … [Read more...]
Sichuan-Style Beef with Broccoli
If you like Chinese takeout-style beef and broccoli, I think you’ll also really enjoy this spicy, Sichuan version of the dish. Beef with broccoli can sometimes be bland, but not this recipe, which incorporates ingredients like star anise, spicy chili sauce and Sichuan peppercorns to enliven the dish. You can find items like garlic chile oil, rice wine, Sichuan peppercorns and … [Read more...]
Rice With Black Beans
Here is a very simple and versatile side dish recipe for rice with black beans. It’s a good accompaniment for meat, chicken and fish or seafood dishes and can also be used as a stuffing for foods like burritos and enchiladas. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp canola or vegetable oil 1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped 2-3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced 1 tsp. ground … [Read more...]
Shrimp Ceviche
During warmer spring and summer weather, I tend to turn to lighter dishes that don’t require heating up the kitchen. One such dish is ceviche, in which raw fish and seafood is "cooked" in an acidic liquid such as lime or lemon juice. There is no need to heat up a stove, oven or grill. Here is an easy, tasty recipe for shrimp ceviche. Ingredients: 1 lb. medium shrimp, … [Read more...]
Maryland-Style Chicken Fingers
Here is a spicy take on fried chicken fingers that kids like as much as adults do. I use Maryland-style spices to kick things up a notch - the type you frequently find when eating shrimp and blue crabs while sailing around the Chesapeake Bay. Ingredients: 1 lb. boneless chicken breast 1 egg 1 cup buttermilk 1 tsp. Louisiana hot sauce (or your favorite) 2 cups … [Read more...]